Number of additional marathons I’d like to run to achieve that goal: 1

I know that I have already achieved a great feat by running a marathon, but I’d REALLY like to have a better record. Back in 2008, when I first started running for leisure, I put “run a marathon” on my list of 5 year goals – so I am very proud to have accomplished that in 2012. However, it wasn’t pretty. Not that running a marathon ever is – but I admittedly didn’t train like I should have and I was at my heaviest this autumn when I ran it. I thought to myself at the time, “I will never do this again; I’ll stick with half-marathons” – but my desire to have a better PR outweighs my desire to never run another marathon. As a favor to my body, I need to lose some pounds before trying again. I would love to have a PR under 4 hours, but, like P. Diddy, I think I would settle for just beating Oprah.

Just a little daily motivation to keep me on track. This popped into my head this morning as I was hanging up some of the husband’s clothes, but it’s not in the one of my top reasons, so I am randomly starting with #16.

Reason #16 why I want to get in better shape: to wear clothes from Banana Republic.

Banana Republic is my husband’s favorite store, so when he needs a new shirt or some new jeans, it’s the first place we go. While he’s in the dressing room, I usually peruse the women’s clothing, always finding something that would be a great addition to my work wardrobe – even if I think it’s a little over priced. I grab a few other things to make the trip to the dressing room worth my while, and go try on the clothes. Every time, I walk out with the same realization: Banana Republic makes clothes for women who have no curves.

Fell in love with this skirt that they had paired with a kelly green top. Tried it on…hello, hips. Source: Banana Republic

I would say 90% of their dresses, skirts, and pants have hips built in to them. This works for a size 0 model who has no curves, but it doesn’t work for a size 12 pear shaped woman. I do not need clothes with silhouettes that add hips – I have enough all on my own, thank you.

Fell in love with this dress from their Mad Men collection – wanted it for our rehearsal dinner. Tried it on – YIKES. Source: Banana Republic

Let’s be honest though – this dress really doesn’t even flatter the model. Source: Banana Republic

In all honesty, I’ll probably never consider them my “go-to” store like my husband – because they’re expensive and because even at my smallest, I still had curves – and I am more than okay with that. It would just be nice to think, “ Hey, this doesn’t look horrible” instead of “Why do they hate women that have shape?!?”

Would be super cute for wedding season…but that silhouette says, “Don’t even think about it”. Source: Banana Republic